Offshore Sailing School announces winner of contest
With a location at the South Seas Island Resort, the Offshore Sailing School announced the winner of its Great Sailing Getaway Contest for a week’s vacation, while learning to sail or bareboat charter.
Founders and co-owners Steve and Doris Colgate reported that 51 entries with an essay and captioned photo were received. Their judging criteria was based on perseverance to successfully overcoming adversity and challenges in the past year. They individually ranked the entries on a scale of 5 being the highest, with eight entries receiving collective 5/5 scores. Then the rest of their staff read the finalist entries and chose their top two.
The entry that received the highest score was submitted by Luis Ramos, of Bristow, Virginia. It honored his “hero” — his wife, Eva — and the submission read as follows:
RIDING THE STORM: COURAGE, SKILLS AND PERSEVERANCE
Since March 2020, overcoming adversity has become the new normal for my wife Eva. As a preschool teacher, she conquered pandemic fears and remained at her workplace providing critical childcare support for our community’s essential workforce. Then, as a part-time student, during the last months of her studies, Eva completed her field projects under increasingly challenging conditions due to ever-changing workplace health safety protocols. This nearly delayed on-time completion of most assignments. Yet, relying on her faith, optimism and self-encouragement, Eva successfully graduated in September 2020. Nonetheless, there was one final challenge ahead for Eva after Covid-19 struck us in early 2021. I was hospitalized for several days, followed by weeks recovering at home under Eva’s loving care. Nevertheless, Eva showed immense courage, skills and perseverance while riding these unique rough sea conditions. For her steadfast dedication, I strongly believe Eva deserves the joy of this great sailing getaway vacation.
The couple won the grand prize of tuition for up to four students — minimum age 7, with adult — for five, half-day Learn to Sail Course or the five-day, Bareboat Charter Cruising Course at South Seas, along with a six-day five-night stay in a two-bedroom Tennis Villa accommodation at the island resort.